PHOTO: Alice M. Lakabah
By Abraham K. Kollie
KAKATA, Liberia- Alice M. Lakabah, a 54-year-old woman living with disability in Kakata Margibi County has dispelled rumors that “when you are disabled, it means that you are no longer part of human society”.
Alice encountered her disability at the age of three. She explains that her late father, who once worked for Bong Mining Company in Bong Mines, Lower Bong County, denied her education because of her disability, while her other siblings went on to obtain higher education in Liberia.
A wheelchair rider, Alice Lakabah was however, determined to make the best life could offer over the year, being confident of the future.
She told this Reporter: “I have confidence that “life” no matter how it is, can be better.” Sometime ago, she started a small business making pastries (“pepper Cala” and rice bread) to send her children to school, despite being denied formal education.
A mother of seven children, Alice has for years now been solely responsible for catering for the kids, since her husband abandoned them and walked away from the home. He later died, making her a widow.
She was able to send her first son, Prince Lakabah to the St Augustine Episcopal Mission High School in Kakata, who successfully graduated with a Diploma and is now a graduate of the Cuttington University in Bong County.
After her first son graduated from university and started earning an income, Alice was abled to transition her business to the sale of Lappy and tailoring, after learning the skill. Through this, she has been able to send one of her daughters Pinkey Lakbah to school. Now, Pinkey is a high school graduate, seeking higher education.
“Since my children’s Father left me, I have been working to ensure that they all are educated. Being denied education by my father and also a disabled person, doesn’t in any way mean that I cannot support my children,” Alice explained.
Speaking further, this courage woman living with disability, further explained that she also been able to buy half lot of Land and build a four-room house for her children and grandchildren.
She added that her engagement in such initiatives is to send out a clear message that those living with disabilities are capable of doing something tangible for themselves.
“Through Selling, I was also able to build my house for my children and grandchildren telling the outside world that those living with disabilities can also make a change,” Mrs. Alice Lakabah narrated.
She has also embarked on agriculture activities in Margibi County, with a call on Librarians to go back to the soil. The backbone of every nation is Agriculture, she said.
According to her, she is engaging in cassava and groundnuts production on five acres of land.
“We all know that Agriculture is the backbone of every nation, so we are investigating in this project as a means of going back to the soil,” She added beaming with smiles. Publication of this article was made possible with support from Internews Inclusive Media project.